The New Blog!

First, thanks to those of you who have made it fun to record a little bit of our lives these past few years. Becca and I started this blog while still living in Costa Rica, and it quickly expanded from there, even justifying Rebecca making another blog to tell more of her side of the story. Being that things will be so different in Oaxaca, I decided to start another blog to chronicle what will occur there. It can be accessed by clicking here. I will no longer be posting on this blog, as our chapter in the jungles of Ecuador has now come to a close. Thanks for joining us, see you in Oaxaca!

The Time Has Come

We just made it through all the hoops that make up modern day travel at airports. We are now just waiting to board our airplane, which will be bound for Panama City, Panama. Luckily, here in the boarding area of the Quito airport, they have free internet, which is helping us to get caught up on some things. From Panama City we will fly to Mexico City; from Mexico City to Oaxaca. We should arrive in Oaxaca around 430pm if all things go well. Our girls are tired (so are we) since we had to wake up at 3am, but otherwise things are going well. Can't say what our internet accessibility will be when we get to Oaxaca, so be patient and we will get back online as quick as we can. Thanks for joining us in this journey and for your prayers as well!

We're getting closer

After a wonderful last few days in Shell, we left yesterday morning and are now in Quito. We have a few last minute appointments and meals here with friends before we board the airplane on Thursday morning to make our way north to Oaxaca. Please continue to pray as we gear up for the upcoming changes. We are excited to just get there and stop living out of suitcases. There is something healthy about living in one place and having a place to "hang your hat." By this time next week, I think we will have "moved" around 6 times in one and a half weeks. It's getting old!

AvWeb again...

One of my pictures was selected again by the aviation internet magazine AvWeb. I am going to keep submitting until they make me "photo of the week" so I can get my free hat! Click here to view this weeks winners.

Pollenators

Can you tell I have had some extra time to "stop and smell the roses?" These black bees were captured in our lemon tree in the front yard doing what God made them to do.

Old Crossing

Although there seems to always be something new being built around Shell, you don't have to look hard to notice a lot of the older buildings, bridges, roads, etc. These bridges we have always liked crossing because if reminds you so powerfully that we really do live in the jungle. Sometimes it is easy to forget because the surrounding jungle is so remarkable cut down and "tamed."

Fresh

With our slower pace of life lately (i.e.-no car, thus a lot more walking) I have had no choice but to "re-notice" the various options of fresh meats around Shell. As I have stated before, there are other ways to buy meat...I just though everyone needs a reminder of the old way to buy meat.

Being that Ecuador has a coastline, seafood and fish are very popular. We have never bought this type of meat. Neither of us are very fond of fish. We are very picky to the way it is cooked and what kind it is. If only pictures had smells...

There is always a pig hanging around somewhere. While it may not look very apetizing just hanging on a big hook...the stuff they are cooking in the background actually makes some awesome shreaded pork BBQ sandwiches.

My Favorite Ladies

While on our little "lunch trip" yesterday, my favorite girls were captured in a sweet hug. Man they are cute!

Last Bike Ride

Knowing my bike is going to be crated up today, this past weekend I took one last and long bike ride. By the time I got back to the house, I had racked up around 18 miles. This isn't very long compared to my old riding days, but it was a lot longer than the ride to and from the hangar that I am used to. Overall, it was a blast to be able to take one last ride through the Ecuadorian Jungle and the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

Lunch Outing

Due to the fact that most of our packing is done, we had some extra time yesterday to take a little drive and visit one of our favorite places to eat lunch. Shortly after Brooklyn was out of pre-school we took the MAF van and headed up the road and had one last and very enjoyable meal at Mirame Lindo.

On previous trips there, they didn't have a parrot. So, we were surprised to see this one as we walked in.

Morning Cough

While walking to the corner store this morning I saw something that hasn't been seen in Shell for a long time...the volcanoes. Due to constant cloud cover, and their high altitiudes, the volcanoes of Sangay and El Altar have rarely been seen most of this year. As I walked back from the store, I looked at Sangay again and it had erupted, or coughed as it were. By the time I walked home and dug out my camera, the plume was already being dispersed by the winds above.

Little guys at work

While passing a palm plant in our back yard this morning I noticed these spiders and their intricate webs. What caught my attention most was the double re-reinforcement around the center of the web. This spider was also enjoying his breakfast of what looked like a fly....yummy!

From the logbook...The Last One (Part Two)

I thought I was done flying, but I had been asked a few times to be willing to fly with the volcanologists again. I had been saying "yes" since it would be early in the morning and pretty easy. This morning when I woke up, I received the call asking me to take them up so they could take their "special" pictures and get a birds eye view of what the volcanoes are doing. We flew for almost 2.5 hours, up to 20,000 feet taking pics of Tungurahua and Sangay...both of which were erupting on a small scale.

This is Tungurahua as we were climbing to 19,000 feet. Below is the tourist town of Baños. You can easily see that if Tungurahua were to erupt on this northern flank, the residents of Baños would be in trouble. At the moment all ash and lahars are going to the southwest. Mostly water vapor is being emitted at the moment. A small ash cloud can be seen blowing away from the volcano.

While circling Tungurahua, El Altar was trying to peek out of the clouds. This is the only shot I got of it, although it still looks pretty fearsome.

This is most surely my last flight here in Ecuador, as I have to pack up my flight gear now. It was sure a good one to go out with. We only have two more weeks here in Shell.